Allocations: Sindh government sets fresh guidelines for ongoing ADP schemes

The Sindh government has set the guidelines for ongoing schemes in Annual Development Programme (ADP) by deciding to allocate 100 percent funds for a ongoing scheme for its completion in next year having throw-forward up to Rs 40.00 million.

However, in order to decrease throw-forward a little space will be available for including fresh/new schemes in ADP 2020-21, so only those new schemes will be considered which have high priority and are of emergent nature, an official document of provincial government suggested.

The document indicated that any new scheme costing up to Rs 100.00 million should be given financing in two years to complete maximum number of schemes. Approval process of new schemes included in ADP 2020-21 are required to be initiated in advance before March 31, 2020, so that, maximum number of schemes are approved in due course of time. The departments will have to bring new unapproved schemes of ADP 2019-20 as fresh/new schemes for ADP 2020-21 in case of priority.

The document indicated that the allocation for new schemes included in Provincial and Districts ADPs must not be less than 25% of the total cost. Cost and scope of new schemes included in ADP should not be changed at the time of preparation of PC-I, only variation of up to 10% will be accepted.

Moreover, New Schemes of Financial Year 2019-20, which have been approved and will continue in next year's ADP, shall also be allocated at least 25% of the total cost in next year's ADP.

Allocation of new schemes be kept in view of the completion period of maximum 3 years, document showed.

The document stated that ADP 2020-21 will be prepared in line with prevalent economic policies, strategies of the government and broad guidelines given by the Federal Government on preparation of PSDP 2020-21. The document disclosed that 1st edition of the ADP 2020-21 may be prepared at the tentative size indicated against each department in the Budget Strategy Paper (BSP) relating to development budget, which may vary depending on the availability of funds with Finance Department, Government of Sindh and final approval of the Chief Minister, Sindh.

Moreover, the size of ADP of each department would be decided depending on the future demand, priority, impact on socio-economic and implementation capacity of the department.

All administrative departments/executing agencies to ensure that the ratio of allocation of ongoing and new un-approved schemes be maintained at 80:20 in provincial and districts ADPs.

The document said that schemes likely to be completed by June, 2020, as per commitment of the departments during ADP review meetings, should not be continued in next year's ADP. Schemes carrying token allocation, zero utilization and/or un-approved for the last two consecutive years shall not be proposed in the ADP 2020-21.